As society modernizes, it becomes more challenging to comprehend the natural environment. After reading the book, Braiding Sweetgrass, written by Robin Wall Kimmerer, my knowledge of the land on which we reside has increased. Kimmerer emphasizes the significance of having an in-depth knowledge of the natural world within the context of her Native American culture. The best Native American lore, which she utilizes as the basis for her writing, is presented at the beginning of the book. Skywoman, the story's heroine, plummets from the skies and is rescued by her new surroundings. She makes a living for herself by making use of her few resources. Kimmerer has enhanced my understanding of the natural world through Skywoman by writing about this …show more content…
Kimmerer points out that “Like Creation stories everywhere, cosmologies are a source of identity and orientation to the world. They tell us who we are. We are inevitably shaped by them no matter how distant they may be from our consciousness” (Skywoman Falling). This led me to conclude that creation stories are a crucial part of our life. They give us purpose, meaning, and a knowledge of why we've been placed here on earth. Kimmerer expands this idea in her work, saying, “These are not ‘instructions’ like commandments, though, or rules; rather, they are like a compass: they provide an orientation but not a map” (Skywoman Falling). Now and then, we have a tendency to take these creation stories too literally. This composition improved my comprehension of the natural world by demonstrating that there is no accurate map of life; instead, it is made up according to your perception and is just intended to serve as an outline. Kimmerer additionally highlights that the meaning of creation stories will alter based on the generation and what works best for the moment. To fully grasp this concept, she writes, “Can they, can we all, understand the Skywoman story not as an artifact from the past but as instructions for the future” (Skywoman Falling). This encourages me to develop my own narrative from well-known creation stories. Thus, Skywoman's creation story contributed to my growing comprehension of natural
I Am The Grass by Daly Walker details the primality of war that strips man of his essence and sends him into a perpetual state of conflict within himself. The story is a testament to the fact that while one cannot fully heal scars incurred by horrors such as war, reparation can lessen the suffering caused by the affliction. Daly Walker utilizes the juxtaposition between two cultures (American, as represented by the narrator, and Vietnamese as represented by Dinh) in order to draw a contrast between those who accept and relent, and those who are forever stuck in the past because they cannot fully come to terms with the horrors of war. The exposition of the piece is primarily concerned with the atrocities and horrors that the narrator experienced
When she was a young child, her parents divorced, leaving her to live with her mother and grandmother. Commonly heroes have some type of family
Francis Schaeffer and James W. Sire present a views of the universe that reflects judeo-scripture in their works. They describe the ideas that God created the universe to be good, and that God continues to oversee and Shepard all that lies within it. God did not simply form the earth with aimless intentions. He had an eternal detailed plan for all He created and would create, and all that He made had a good and holy purpose. In Genesis in Space and Time, Schaeffer conveys it as, “A doxology of all creation-everything glorifying God on its own level” (56).
Robin Wall-Kimmerer makes a compelling argument, her book “Braiding Sweetgrass” that technology created by humans poses a significant risk to the human world, including the natural environment and all living beings. She emphasizes the importance of indigenous ecological knowledge and understanding the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things. Moreover, Kimmerer considers the role that artificial intelligence and technology play in the shared future of humans and the more than human world on Earth. Technology is often designed and used to benefit human interests and profits, rather than promoting a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world. The current relationship between humans and the environment is
She strives to create realistic and relatable characters who face challenges and overcome them with courage and
“The Cosmic perspective” Written by Neal deGrasse Tyson, is an essay that goes in-depth on the beauty of the universe. At the beginning of the essay, Tyson talks about how the ideas of astronomy came from simple beginnings scientifically but have advanced with humanity. In Addition to this, Tyson talks about how the scientific perspective can only be studied by those with the privilege of not focusing on survival. Tyson gives a litany of examples demonstrating how science has increased humanity's collective knowledge. Tyson's main idea in the text is that the cosmic perspective allows us to see the beauty of the universe beyond earth, and why we should focus more on getting all members of society to that point.
“The Sky Tree” reveals beliefs about nature, complex religious beliefs and strong social value. “The Sky Tree” shows animals being involved in everyday life. All the animals including, “Beaver, mink, muskrat brought up paw full of soil and placed on turtle 's back until they had made an island”(20).The earth was formed from the animals. “The Sky Tree” also shows complex religious beliefs. After Old Man decided to cut the tree to survive he “cut the tree, it
In this literary work, just like in Thomas King's The Truth About Stories, the author discusses, in detail, the story about the 'Sky Woman' who in the other piece was known as 'Charm,' resulting in the creation of "Mother Earth." In my opinion, the author's approach of writing was great to paint a picture of what occurred in a person's mind through the use of symbolism. Although it may seem like any great bedtime story from the first read, if one looks past its basic storyline, they can understand why Indigenous peoples, as well as people in general, like to share it. However, the story was, according to me, very fictional and unrealistic though it may not be to others. The idea of a woman falling out of the sky, onto a turtle's back, then
In various cultures, traditional stories of a universal beginning relate to the beliefs and rituals that are prevalent within that society. Although these creation stories differ among cultures, all display similar characteristics which constitute archetypal settings of creation myths, such as a great tree, the landmass from a watery chaos, and the fall of man. In the Iroquois’ creation myth, “The World on the Turtle’s Back”, the display of archetypal settings parallels the creation depicted in the book of Genesis, but underlying each similarity are differing interpretations which allow for the stories to relate to its specific culture. In both “The World on the Turtle’s Back” and the Genesis creation story, a prominent characteristic is the great tree connecting heaven and earth.
Marcus Garvey said, “People without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” For the citizens of Otter Lake, a fictional reserve set in Drew Hayden Taylor’s Novel Motorcycles and Sweetgrass, they are disconnected from their cultural roots. Much of the older generation is suffering psychologically from the effects of residential schools, where their culture was taken from them. The younger generations in return feel no ties to their past as they were raised by people who feelings towards it were conflicted as they spent years being abused and told that their culture was wrong. As an author, one of their main roles is to convey a message.
Motorcycles and Sweetgrass is a novel that taught me about modern Indigenous values and lives, while being entertaining and engaging to read at the same time. In Motorcycles and Sweetgrass, Drew Hayden Taylor demonstrates that finding balance between culture and modern realities is essential to grow needed familial connections. Hayden Taylor portrays the importance through the literary devices of conflict, setting, and characterization. To begin, Hayden Taylor uses conflict to demonstrate the way perspectives need to change. John’s arrival resulted in person vs person conflict for many of the characters, allowing him to serve as a catalyst for their discovery of balance and sense of connection.
She’s had jobs that span from working in a zoo to being a journalist, but now she is an author who specializes in science and humor, which is very evident in her popular 2003 Stiff. Her motivation for said book, was to show her audience that
“The Bean Trees,” by Barbara Kingsolver, is a novel surrounding the life of Taylor Greer as she travels west while discovering the hardships of motherhood due to raising a three-year-old American Indian child named Turtle. Although Taylor grew up in Kentucky, she travels west to Tucson, Arizona, in which she moves in with Lou Ann and finally embarks on the journey that is her life. It is evident that feminism and womanhood is a central theme throughout this novel, as both Lou Ann and Taylor have to raise children on their own. Another crucial theme seen throughout this novel is transformation which is seen in most, if not, all, of the characters. The relationship between Taylor and Turtle exemplifies the glorious bond between a mother and her daughter, showing how Taylor transformed from once being appalled at the idea of raising Turtle
Embark on a captivating journey through two compelling novels, delving into the complexities and resilience of Indigenous communities in Canada. Drew Hayden Taylor's Motorcycles and Sweetgrass immerses readers in an indigenous community, exploring the impact of systemic issues on personal and familial identity. Meanwhile, Eden Robinson's Son of a Trickster follows a troubled teenage boy navigating addiction, family struggles, and supernatural forces. Through the characters in Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson and Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor, the themes of identity, family dynamics, and hardships are intricately woven together, providing insight into the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Canada. These themes
As they lived in the sky world the woman got pregnant and craved to eat roots from the forbidden tree, as she dug up the roots she fell through the ground and fell onto earth. The woman knew she was not supposed to eat the roots, but she did anyways. ”It